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By Chinenye Anuforo
The Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative, Gbenga Sesan, has attributed the stalled progress of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to policy inconsistencies and political interference. Established to extend affordable ICT services to rural, unserved and underserved communities in Nigeria, the USPF has struggled to meet its objectives due to mismanagement and lack of political will.
Sesan criticised the failure to implement the infrastructure companies (Infracos) initiative, which was designed to simplify rural expansion by allowing operators to share infrastructure. “Instead of MTN or Airtel going alone to build masts in rural areas, Infracos were supposed to set up the infrastructure, and operators would simply pay to use it,” he explained. However, delays in policy execution and poor coordination with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) derailed the plan.
He also highlighted allegations of USPF funds being diverted for political gains, stating, “Money meant to provide infrastructure was spent buying computers for villages of politicians, and the secretary of the USPF faced pressure for refusing to bow to political demands.”
Sesan argued that rural areas remain viable markets despite claims by operators that they are not profitable.
“If people in these areas make phone calls, there is a market. The issue is not feasibility but the lack of clear policies and enforcement to drive investment,” he said.
Despite these setbacks, he expressed hope for the future, citing regional collaborations to strengthen ICT infrastructure within ECOWAS and renewed efforts to enhance resilience in the sector. His remarks call for urgent policy reforms to unlock the potential of the USPF and bridge the digital divide in Nigeria.
